IT Central Support & Services

Campus software licensing

Microsoft Software Campus Agreement (Updated 12/20/06)

The first shipment of Microsoft software under our new Microsoft Campus Agreement has arrived. The software includes all current updates to existing (licensed) software and new media for the products that campus departments recently ordered. IT has also acquired the volume license product keys and will soon begin distributing the software to departments. IT has also acquired the volume license keys for Office 2007 and Windows Vista operating system upgrades, however media for these products are not yet available. Please see below for information specific to Windows Vista OS and Office 2007.

In early November 2006, Microsoft released new information about Windows Vista and Office 2007.

Arrival of Microsoft Windows Vista OS and Office 2007

Microsoft Windows Vista OS and Office 2007 media were not included in the December shipment. According to Microsoft, the media should be available next month. In the interim, IT downloaded this software from Microsoft’s Volume Licensing web site and is burning copies to CD and DVD. Office 2007 should be available for distribution very soon but Vista distribution will be delayed slightly (see below).

Microsoft Windows Vista OS

There are several versions of the new Vista. These include, at least three Home Edition versions: Basic, Premium, and Ultimate. There are also at least three Business Edition versions: Standard, Enterprise, and Ultimate. The University of Montana's Campus Agreement covers the Business Standard and Business Enterprise versions. Unlike past Windows releases that required a volume license product key when installing the upgrade, Vista Business requires "activation" (and periodic reactivation) that must be accomplished through a centrally managed server.

The license key provided through the University's Campus Agreement is called a "KMS" key (for "Key Management Service"). The KMS key requires running a central KMS server, which in turn activates any/all copies of Vista obtained through the Campus Agreement and installed on University-owned computers. The KMS key allows the University to run a single copy of the KMS server (plus a backup for redundancy) so this server must be centrally managed for the entire campus. Before IT can begin distributing Vista, we must understand the KMS server and activation process to ensure it functions properly and is accessible (only) by those who need it. Once IT personnel understand these processes and has set up the KMS server, Vista will be ready for distribution.

Those who choose to install the Windows Vista upgrade should take special note of the following requirement. After the initial activation of Windows Vista, it will be necessary to reactivate each installed copy at least once every 180 days. So, for those with University-owned computers that are located off campus (e.g., in locations such as the Flathead Lake Biological Station), it will be critical that the KMS server is configured in a way that allows access while still being limited to authorized users, For those who use laptops while traveling frequently, it will be important to remember the reactivation requirement and schedule.

Software Distribution Details

In order to meet Microsoft's minimum order requirements, several Microsoft orders were combined software requests from several campus units. Because each order contains just one set of media, IT received fewer copies than are needed for distribution. IT is duplicating the media to create a sufficient number of sets as well as developing a database to track software distribution. All software except Windows Vista will be ready for distribution in early January. Once procedures are in place, IT will contact campus departments and begin the delivery process.

A Reminder about Software for which Licenses were NOT Renewed

Any department that has installed software that was licensed through the Microsoft Campus Agreement over the past three years, but which did not renew the licenses this fall, MUST remove that software from any computers on which it may have been installed. Those previous licenses are now expired and are no longer valid.